Corsage starts on Christmas Eve in 1877. It is the 40th birthday of Elisabeth (Vicky Krieps) who is Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. The film covers her life over the year that follows. Elisabeth is stuck in a largely loveless marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph and is increasingly dissatisfied with her life. She is surrounded by pomp and circumstance and by powerful people but has little power or influence herself. She has also always been recognised as a beautiful woman, but as she ages she is desperate to maintain her public image.
This is a curious movie. Elisabeth is a frustrating, and frankly, unlikeable protagonist but the depiction of her stifling life is always quite interesting. However, as what is shown bares virtually no resemblance to Elisabeth’s real life, it feels a little pointless, especially as the true story had much more drama than what is shown in Marie Kruetzer’s film. The deliberately added modern day anachronisms, such as the music performed, glass fire doors and a ferry boat are, I assume, meant to show that Elisabeth’s struggle to find a role for herself in a society run by men is the same one that women face today. But that feels very heavy-handed.
Krieps is excellent in what is a handsomely made but underwhelming film.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10